Psalm 129

1 Many a time have they warred against me from my youth, let Israel now say:

2 Many a time have they warred against me from my youth: and yet they prevailed not against me.

3 The sinners wrought upon my back: they prolonged their iniquity.

4 The righteous Lord has cut asunder the necks of sinners.

5 Let all that hate Sion be put to shame and turned back.

6 Let them be as the grass of the house-tops, which withers before it is plucked up.

7 Wherewith the reaper fills not his hand, nor he that makes up the sheaves, his bosom.

8 Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.

Psalm 129 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 129

\\<>\\. This psalm was written in later times, after many of the distresses of Israel; very probably upon the Jews return from the Babylonish captivity, by Ezra, or some other godly person. Aben Ezra says the psalmist speaks in the language of Israel in captivity; and the same is the sense of Kimchi and Arama. The Syriac inscription is, ``a psalm without a name, concerning the distress of the people; but as to us, it intimates to us the victory and triumph of the worshippers.''